PhD studies at Europa-Universität Flensburg

A PhD shows a student's particular aptitude for independent academic work. A PhD thesis must be an independent thesis that delivers important findings and promotes science.

The following paragraphs briefly deal with some important issues in this regard. This information may also assist you in your decision-making process.

Biographical: PhD studies as a chapter in one's life

A PhD thesis is a long-term independent research project, taking a minimum of 2 years but usually much longer. When you also consider the PhD examination procedure, the time allocated to this project should not be too short. Researching and writing the PhD thesis dictates your everyday routine. This will therefore be a very intense chapter of your life. This long term focus on one academic issue represents a great opportunity. This kind of work, though often lonely, should be enjoyable. Those who are only interested in the title should consider carefully whether all this work and effort will be worthwhile for them.

Those who see PhD studies as a chapter in their life will subsequently still have the opportunity for personal development and may also work as a lecturer or in the private sector. A PhD is not a one-way street that will end in a guaranteed academic career.

Clear: The profile of Europa-Universität Flensburg

The relatively small Europa-Universität Flensburg offers accredited Bachelor and Master Degree Programs in Educational Sciences, Communication Sciences, the Teaching of Knowledge, covering all range of subjects, and in internationally orientated Economics and Social Sciences, as well as other spezialized areas. It must be possible to allocate the subject of the PhD thesis and the method used to one of the scientific areas taught at Europa-Universität Flensburg.

Europa-Universität Flensburg awards the following academic titles:

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Economics

Europa-Universität Flensburg offers different kinds of supervision and training to PhD students: interdisciplinary and subject related colloquia, specific training courses and general advice.

During the course of PhD studies, Europa-Universität Flensburg likes to cooperate closely with scientists at other universities and universities of applied sciences who are involved as external examiners.

Central: Scientific supervision

PhD studies at Europa-Universität Flensburg are always supervised by a professor so, before you start your PhD, you must identify a professor who is willing to supervise you.

According to tradition at German universities, supervision of a PhD is an intensive experience characterized by the scientific exchange of ideas. Scientific cooperation and detailed discussion of the PhD project are the norm, so that, in the end, the supervisor and the student decide whether a PhD thesis can be handed in or whether further work is required.

As a rule, this decision is made independently of the PhD student's own research work. The supervisory relationship is therefore planned for the entire PhD. It is possible however, to change the supervisor in cases of incompatibility.

The supervision of a PhD is one of the principal duties of professors. Any supervision or review required during the course of a PhD is therefore always provided free of charge.

Possible: Use of Previous Publications

Based on the applicable PhD regulations, there is no concern about portions of the PhD project, for example as part of another research project, being taken from papers published previously by the PhD candidate. However, any use of previously published works must be dealt with completely transparently and the portion used must reflect intensive editorial revisions or further development of content to prove, beyond a doubt, that the PhD project was developed as one, independent piece of work and not a republication of various works with a new introduction and summary.

Required: Formalities

Europa-Universität Flensburg aims to keep formalities for admission and supervision of a PhD, to a minimum, within the rules and requirements, which are laid down in the PhD Regulations. The current version is dated August August 2012.

Any graduate of a university, an academic institution of higher education or a university of applied sciences holding a Master’s degree, a Magister degree, a German diploma ("Diplom") or a state examination may be accepted for a PhD.

In general, PhD students enroll at Europa-Universität Flensburg, but this is not a legal requirement.

It is a prerequisite to provide the name of the supervisor of the PhD.

Europa-Universität Flensburg has determined that the oral examination, the final stage of the PhD, must always be carried out in the form of the traditional defense of the PhD thesis.

Important: Financing

The financing of your PhD project is of fundamental importance. There are several choices as how to finance a PhD, which will also influence the duration of the PhD project. There are a few positions for research assistants at Europa-Universität Flensburg, which are financed either out of the budget, or by so-called third-party funds, that provide an excellent basis for a PhD project. The University also awards a few scholarships for the promotion of PhDs, sponsored by the Land Schleswig-Holstein. In addition, almost all major foundations for gifted students are represented at Europa-Universität Flensburg by so-called liaison lecturers. As well as contacting these lecturers, it would be worthwhile to research other funding opportunities.

PhD students can also fund PhD projects themselves. Of course it is possible to work whilst you are working on your PhD, but this needs to be considered very carefully!!

Europa-Universität Flensburg has also set up a Hardship Fund for those whose projects could be jeopardized due to lack of funding in the final stage of the PhD. The idea is to relieve PhD students from financial worries for a period of approximately 3 months during the final stage of the PhD to allow them to achieve completion. These funds are a loan and repayable at some stage. Applications should be sent directly to the PhD Board.